Quoting AirbusA6 (Reply 6):If Virgin Media (a major UK telecom/cable tv company in which SRB has a stake) is take over by private equity (which seems likely) SRB will have some more funds to buy back part or all of the stake...

very true although, I do not recall Branson ever buying something like this back?
I think it is very unlikely he would in this case too?

Could this mean that with SQ no longer blocking VS, we could see VS join *A possibly with a tie-up with BD?

That would be a very interesting proposition... In Australia it would mean that *A would finally get a carrier after AN collapsed 2001. Perhaps NZ could be interested in some equity involvement... VS and NZ are quite similar carriers in many ways and are at the opposite ends of the world from each other...could be a good partnership especially with DJ in Australia...

Quoting Zkpilot (Reply 10):VS and NZ are quite similar carriers in many ways and are at the opposite ends of the world from each other...could be a good partnership especially with DJ in Australia...

yes, but the new Virgin Blue trans-pacific flights I were under the impression based on a low cost, 'Oasis Hong Kong' business model? So these would in thoery be competing with Air New Zealand.

Quoting Gordonsmall (Reply 9):Branson floated the Vrigin group (well, parts of it anyway, though not the airline) on the stock market in the late 80's/early 90's and then promptly bought it all back when the stock market crashed.

this is a very 'one-off' example though. I would be very surprised if Branson brought these shares back.

Quoting Carledwards (Reply 7):very true although, I do not recall Branson ever buying something like this back?
I think it is very unlikely he would in this case too?

Quoting Bill142 (Reply 8):He did everything he could to try gain control of Virgin Blue from Patrick Corp.

He also tried on numerous occasions to buy back Virgin Records. He had sold it in the early 1990s to save Virgin Atlantic. Later, when he was on a more stable footing, he wanted the record company back but EMI wouldn't sell.

When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.' T.Roosevelt

Quoting Carledwards (Reply 7):Quoting AirbusA6 (Reply 6):
If Virgin Media (a major UK telecom/cable tv company in which SRB has a stake) is take over by private equity (which seems likely) SRB will have some more funds to buy back part or all of the stake...

very true although, I do not recall Branson ever buying something like this back?
I think it is very unlikely he would in this case too?

I believe a Japanese company (not an airline) had a stake is VS back in the late 80s(?) which SRB bought back well before the subsequent sale of a larger stake to SQ. SRB does tend to but and sell stakes in his companies, depending on
a) What other investments he fancies doing instead, and
b) Whether he need some short term cash!

Quoting Zkpilot (Reply 10):Perhaps NZ could be interested in some equity involvement... VS and NZ are quite similar carriers in many ways

I can see no reason for the NZ major shareholder to get involved in an airline that is of no strategic interest to N.Z. No doubt there are private equity players who have doodled on the back of an envelope how such a combination could perhaps work. My suspicion is that the present N.Z. Govt.for ideological reasons would insist on all sorts of conditions that would make such a deal very difficult to do

Quoting Bill142 (Reply 8):He did everything he could to try gain control of Virgin Blue from Patrick Corp.

Except put up enough money to make the deal of interest to Patrick ! Branson is what I would describe as a 10c millionaire, well set with paper assets but with little liquidity.